Portfolio - Special Edition Switzerland

30 Special Edition Switzerland Shopping WELCOME TO THE TRENDY SIDE With my taste buds still rife from all the chocolate tasting, I knew I had one more mission for the evening before I could prepare to bid farewell to the city. Thrill fills me up as I had already explored aspects of the traditional, historical, culinary, and luxurious sides of Zurich. Now, it was time to explore the trendy and offbeat Zurich-West. Think: industrial areas, repurposed breweries, street art, fashion, more local shopping, sunset drinks, and culinary delights. Spotting the overarching Prime Tower from a distance, the first thing that strikes me at Escher-Wyss-Platz was the Towers art installation by Cuban artist duo Los Carpentiros. The five sculptures in the form of screwdrivers and other drilling equipment represent the industrial past of Zurich-West. It was here that ships were built at one point, and several factories existed. Many of these factories are now repurposed, and Zurich has more than 1,300 art pieces outdoors for public access. An intriguing part of Zurich-West to shop and eat locally is the Im Viadukt, a street lined with an array of stores, a restaurant, and a Markthalle (indoor market area) located under stone railway bridges. The Markthalle hosts several stores offering local and regional products. The gourmet grocery store Berg Und Tal was an extra treat to visit, marvelling at the information about slow-food and niche products they carry. The shopping street itself is filled with several high fashion outlets, second-hand shops, and stores that sell books, furniture, and quirky gifts. Rest and refuel at these bite-to-eat stops. LINDT HOME OF CHOCOLATE Houses the world’s biggest Lindt store, which has a dedicated cafe and museum. lindt-home-of-chocolate. com BERG UND TAL Perfect for all Swiss- produced food and drinks. berg-tal.ch WOCHENMARKT BÜRKLIPLATZ An outdoor market which sells local produce every Tuesday and Friday. Bürkliplatz, Zurich EAT + DRINK ONE CARD TO RULE THEM ALL Carry your Zurich City Card for discounts and unlimited public transport for 24 or 72 hours. zuerich.com Freitag is our next stop. This Zurich brand makes durable and water-resistant bags out of used truck tarpaulins, discarded seat belts, and bicycle tubes. Targeted initially at bike riders, Freitag now has branches all across the world and has become incredibly popular. I am told that no two bags are the same. As the sun starts to set and the fairy lights twinkle in the nearby Frau Gerold’s Garten eatery, I pause, unwind, and enjoy a drink here. It’s fascinating to be sitting in an industrial site, with its railway tracks, urban surfing venue, and a flagship store building made of freight containers in the vicinity, knowing that centuries-old architecture and Einstein’s university were just a couple of train stops away on the other side of the city. Indeed, I found a way to take a piece of Switzerland back with me in more ways than one.